Effect of Restriction of Vision on Driving Performance
Publication: Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 120, Issue 5
Abstract
The effect of restricting vision on driving performance was investigated in a field study. Commonly occurring binocular visual‐field defects were simulated for a group of young normal subjects and the effect of these defects on their driving performance on a private closed rural road, free of other vehicles, was assessed. The monocular condition did not significantly affect performance for any of the driving tasks assessed. Restriction of the binocular visual field to 40° and less, significantly increased the time taken to complete the course, reduced the ability to detect and correctly identify road signs, avoid obstacles, and to maneuver through limited spaces. Accuracy of road positioning and reversing were also impaired with field restriction. However, the time taken for many driving tasks, reversing and maneuvering, and the driver's ability to estimate speed, stopping distance, or reaction time were not affected by a restriction of the binocular visual fields. The results are discussed with regard to their impact on traffic engineering practices.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 120 • Issue 5 • September 1994
Pages: 737 - 752
Copyright
Copyright © 1994 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 16, 1992
Published online: Sep 1, 1994
Published in print: Sep 1994
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